Slot holder



y 1950 R. B. JAMES 2,506,219

SLOT HOLDER Filed Sept. 3, 1948 INVEN TOR. ,eoaeer 5, .mMes

Patented May 2, 2950 pfdvidd with'a'n hmxiamm direc passes through a correspondingly shaped hole in the cylinder end wall 6| whereby the coil engaging jaws 66 are prevented from rotating. A spring 63 biases the piston inwardly so as to open the jaws when the piston operating pressure is released. The jaw 66 is provided with suitable bifurcated coil engaging extensions which are arranged in staggered relationship relative to the corresponding extensions provided on the relatively stationary coil engaging jaw 44, with the result that the jaw 66 can be moved toward the relatively stationary jaw 44 so as to engage even the smallest type of coil.

The upper end of the cylinder 60 is provided with a head 68 which is fastened to the slotted projection 10 (formed as an integral part of the bracket 40) by means of the bolt 72 and thumb nut 73. The bolt 12 is slidable within the slot 14 of the projection 10. By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible to shift the cylinder 60 sidewise in the direction of the spread of the V-shaped jaws 44 and 66 and thereby vary the distance between the axis of the cylinder 60 and the main portion of the bracket 40 so as to adjust the coil holder for coils of different shapes. Figure 2 shows the coil holder adjusted for a coil of one shape, whereas Figure 3 shows the holder adjusted for a coil of another shape.

Fluid under pressure, such as air, is supplied tothe upper end of the cylinder 60 through the fluid line 16. By controlling the pressure of the fluid supplied to the upper end of the cylinder 60, it is possible to adjust the pressure with which the jaw 66 engages the coil. Thus the coil holder will work with coils of various sizes without the need for any adjustment in the clamping mechanism. The only time when adjustment is necessary is when it is necessary to adjust for changes in the geometric cross sectional shape of the coil. If the device is to be used for coils having different geometric cross sectional shapes, it is possible to adjust for the differences in the geometric shapes merely by loosening the nut 15 which holds the cylinder 60 in adjustment relative to the bracket 40.

Bolts 90 hold the cylinders 60 and end walls 6| in assembled relationship relative to the cylinder head 68. Thus the clamping device is very inexpensive and requires a minimum amount of adjustment and may be operated automatically.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a coil spreading device, a support, a cylinder carried by said support, a piston operable within said cylinder, 9. piston rod connected to said piston, a first coil engaging jaw carried by said support and including a portion having two coil engaging surfaces arranged substantially at right angles to one another for engaging two sides of said coil, a second complementary coil engaging jaw operatively connected to said piston rod and having surfaces arranged substantially at right angles to one another for engaging the two opposite sides of said coil, and means for adjusting the alignment of said jaws so as to compensate for differences in the shape of the cross sectional areas of different coils to be engaged by said jaws, said last named means comprising means for adjustably shifting one of said jaws in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane which bisects the angle formed between the coil engaging surfaces of the other of said jaws, the arrangement of said jaws being such that said second jaw moves in a direction parallel to the line bisecting the angle of the V of said first named jaw.

2. In a coil spreading device, a support, 2. cylinder carried by said support, a. piston operable within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston, a first coil engaging jaw carried by said support and including a portion having two coil engaging surfaces arranged substantially at right angles to one another for engaging two sides of said coil, a second complementary coil engaging jaw operatively connected to said piston and having surfaces arranged substantially at right angles to one another for engaging the two opposite sides of said coil, and means for adjusting the alignment of said jaws so as to compensate for diiferences in the shape of the cross sectional areas of different coils to be engaged by said jaws, said last named means comprising means for adjustably shifting said cylinder relative to said first jaw in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane which bisects the angle formed between the coil engaging surfaces of said first jaw, the arrangement of said jaws being such that said second jaw moves in a direction parallel to the line bisecting the angle of the V of said first jaw.

3. In a clamp, a support, a first V-shaped jaw carried by said support, a cylinder carried by said support, a piston operable within said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston, a second V-shaped jaw complementary to said first V- shaped jaw and connected to said piston rod for movement toward and away from said first named jaw in response to movement of said piston, said second jaw having its vertex extending in the opposite direction from the vertex of said first named jaw and the arrangement of said second jaw being such that the line bisecting the angle of the V is parallel to the direction of movement of the piston and the arms thereof are substantially parallel to the arms on said first jaw, and means for adjustably shifting the cylinder in the direction of the spread of the jaws.

i. In a clamp, a support, a first V-shaped jaw carried by said support, a cylinder carried by said support, a piston operable within said cylinder, 3. piston rod attached to said piston, a second V-shaped jaw complementary to said first V- shaped jaw and connected to said piston rod for movement toward and away from said first named jaw in response to movement of said piston, said second jaw having its vertex extending in the opposite direction from the vertex of said first named jaw and the arrangement of said second jaw being such that the line bisecting the angle of the V is parallel to the direction of movement of the piston and the arms thereof are substantially parallel to the arms on said first jaw, and means for adjustably shifting the cylinder in the direction of the spread of the jaw, said jaws having interlacing fingers.

5. In a coil spreading device, a support having a, slotted projection adjacent its one end, a cylinder, a piston operable within said cylinder, 2. piston rod connected to said piston, a first coil engaging jaw carried by said support and including a portion having two coil engaging-surfaces arranged substantially at right angles to one another for engaging two sides of said coil, a

second complementary coil engaging jaw operatively connected to said piston rod and havin surfaces arranged substantially at right angles to one another for engaging the two opposite sides of said coil, and means for adjusting the alignment or said jaws so as to compensate for differences in the shape of the cross sectional areas of different coils to be engaged by said jaws. said last named means comprising a mounting bolt secured to said cylinder and adjustably supported within said slot for shifting said cylinder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane which bisects the angle formed between the coil engaging surfaces of the other of said jaws, the arrangement of said jaws being such that said second jaw moves in a direction parallel .to the line bisecting the angle of the V of said first named jaw.

6. In a clamp, a support, a first V-shaped jaw carried by said support, jaw operating mechanism carried by said support, a second V-shaped jaw complementary to said first V-shaped jaw and connected to said jaw operating mechanism for movement toward and away from said first named REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 440,051 Naylor Nov. 4, 1890 676,292 Wigtel June 11, 1901 1,393,035 Morris Oct. 11, 1921 1,430,226 Goodreaw Sept. 26, 1922 2,451,222 James Oct. 12, 1948 

